April 2009: The Animal Welfare Bill has, at last, been brought to Parliament,
nearly three years after the Draft Bill, and was presented by the Law Commission
to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The much outdated single piece of legislation that exists today for the
protection and welfare of animals is the 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Ordinance' of 1907. This antiquated law has penalties and fines coming from
British times, making a mockery of the law today. In this Ordinance, the fine
for the worst acts of cruelty to an animal, remains at rupees two hundred and
fifty!

If the Animal Welfare Bill is passed in Parliament, it will not only draw
from our past traditions, but will place us among modern progressive societies,
which, while upholding human rights, also have
effective laws to protect animals, bringing the treatment of animals within the
Rule of Law.